Stephen King Reacts to the Mass Shooting in His Home State of Maine
The Maine native and bestselling horror author expressed his anger and frustration in the aftermath of the mass shootings.
Maine native and bestselling horror author Stephen King took to X, formerly known as Twitter, on October 26 to express his anger and frustration in the aftermath of the mass shootings that left 18 people dead and 13 more injured near from his home.
"The shootings occurred less than 50 miles from where I live," King wrote. "I went to high school in Lisbon. It's the rapid-fire killing machines, people. This is madness in the name of freedom. Stop electing apologists for murder."
In a later post, he added: "THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IN OTHER COUNTRIES."
Maine lacks stringent background checks and "red-flag" laws, and doesn't require permits for concealed carry. However, the state does bar people from possessing firearms if they have been involuntarily committed to a mental health facility.
According to his website, King was born in Portland, Maine; lived for a time in Durham; attended Lisbon Falls High School; and graduated from the University of Maine at Orono. King has featured Maine in many of his works; "It" takes place in the fictional Maine town of Derry, and "Carrie" mentions Lewiston.
Law enforcement are continuing to search for the 40-year-old suspected gunman two days after he opened fire at a restaurant and bowling alley in Lewiston on the night of October 25. The shootings saw as many people killed in one night as were killed in statewide in all of 2021.